Isiah Robertson

Craig Sager known for his colorful and distinctive suits during his more than 40-year career passed away at the age of 65 after battling acute myeloid leukemia since he was first diagnosed in 2014 - (pvsbond photo) REMEMBERING CRAIG SAGER

SPORTS NOTES EXTRA - REMEMBERING the NFL's ISIAH ROBERTSON

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Former Los Angeles Ram and Buffalo Bills linebacker Isiah Robertson died this week in an automobile accident. We knew Robertson during his career with the Rams. We recall how we remembered him and how we feel he was unappreciated for his talents and was largely misunderstood - THIS DAY IN THE NBA

Sunday, December 09, 2018

ONCE MIGHTY… NOW FALLEN

As soon as TV news flashed that a former NFL linebacker died my first thought on my mind was of my former friend Isiah Robertson since he was the Robertson I knew from the NFL. For further information I went to ESPN's website and my fears were clarified it was Isiah.

Robertson died in a car crash while he was driving a limo in Texas. There remain some unanswered questions such as why was he driving a limo and was he intoxicated?

Robertson had a strong career but was not appreciated as much as he desired. He was a sensitive type that expressed his emotions. One statement he said has been embedded in my mind, 'that a black man has to be three times better than a white man (to make it).

That played out during his last season with the Rams when he played in just 6 games. The Rams decided to move ion from his contributions and go with their top draft rookie Bob Brudzinski.

In 1978, Brudzinski became the starter at right outside linebacker in week 10 when Isiah Robertson walked out of camp purported with complaints about his salary. Robertson was a First-team All-Pro in 1976 and a Second-team choice in 1977 while making the Pro Bowl both seasons. After the season, the Rams traded Isiah to the Buffalo Bills. After he was traded Robertson signed a 4-year $1 million contract making him among the highest paid NFL linebackers, averaging $250,000 a season which equates to the Rams didn't appreciate his talent.

Robertson played linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams (1971-1978) and the Buffalo Bills (1979-1982). He was selected to six Pro Bowls during his years with the Rams. He picked off 25 passes in his career, returning three for touchdowns. He scored a fourth touchdown on a fumble recovery in 1978. According to Rams and Bills records, Robertson also sacked the quarterback 25½ times and recorded 16 fumbles in his career.

Brudzinski played 13 seasons in the National Football League including with the Rams (1977-1980) and the Miami Dolphins (1981-1989). He registered 25 Interceptions and scored 3 Touchdowns.

Robertson won numerous NFL Awards including 6× Pro Bowl (1971, 1973-1977), 4× First-team All-Pro (1973-1976), 2× Second-team All-Pro (1971, 1977) and was selected the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1971). Brudzinski failed to win any of those honors.

I met Robertson during my musician days when he was with the Los Angels Rams. The Rams practice at Blair Field in Long Beach, California. I was playing in a band at a club in the Long Beach Marina and many of the ram players would drop by after their practice.

At that time he was a huge gregarious fellow with a beaming ear to ear smile. After buying drinks he engaged in conversation and over time we became friends. That became clear after I left the band and joined another playing at a club some distance away from the Marina he came to see us play and got to know all of us in the band, he was a warm, outgoing person.

Robertson loved music and one night he showed up with his saxophone and requested to sit in (play) with us. We played on a stage in the middle of the bar therefore no space for Isiah. He proceeded to join us play the songs Night Train and Honky Tonk from the floor in front of the bar. His smile was enormous.

Around 1975 I needed a change in my life. I left the band and traveled throughout Europe. It was at this time that I lost contact with Isiah.

I knew Robertson in a friendly way he was always in high spirits and expressive. One such time came about when he came into the club following his return from a game on the road and complained about the artificial grass on the field and its lime markings.

He showed me his arms that were all scratched from what is similar to rug burns. It was amusing seeing and hearing this massive 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and 225 lb (102 kg) man complain about rug burns when he played a brutal sport where a player's arms, legs and knees are broken. There's no question that Isiah was a sensitive individual whose personality was largely misconstrued.

Robertson's most memorable moment in his playing career was in the 1974 season intercepting Washington Redskin quarterback Sonny Jurgensen's pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and moving on to the next round of the playoffs. In his interception return Robertson displayed the moves of Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris as he darted in and out of the opposition weaving his way to the end zone. The link to that video is below for you to copy and paste if you desire.

His must be three times better statement repeatedly rings out with the numerous racist attitudes today particularly with Colin Kaepernick's situation. I didn't know that much about his background other than he played college ball at Southern University but I learned in doing the research of his life following his death.

In a video interview Robertson picked up the pieces I didn't know about that being following his playing career he had a bad experience with gambling, drugs and alcohol. He hit bottom and recovered. He found god and started a youth organization that helped unwanted and abused children.

What was shocking was his facial expressions and joviality. The smile was gone and his face was stern and hard resembling having been carved in stone. It was sad to see but easy to understand given how he was truly unappreciated for his playing talents. His tough image belies what he was really about.... a lamb in wolves clothing.

Robertson wasn't the only star player that the Rams shit on. The Rams did the same to guys that excelled in awards and talent, namely Eric Dickerson and Jerome Bettis. Bettis came up with a better after a trade and being a member of the Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl XL (40th) winning team. Dickerson was busted up by the overtime work he put in for the Rams and had a tough time running for the Indianapolis Colts due to his banged up knees.

These two Hall of Fame players join Robertson in the unappreciated Rams club. Unfortunately Robertson's great smile and warm personality will be greatly missed.

ISIAH ROBERTSON LINKS on YOU TUBE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHmiI_GVhKk = INTERCEPTION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew7PsppuMcM = INTERVIEW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdIveqdFZI4 = HALL OF FAME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9y_KZwOq9g = EARL CAMPBELL

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

December 9, 1988 Jerry Sloan was named head coach of the Utah Jazz, replacing Frank Layden, who resigned as head coach. Sloan’s coaching tenure with the Jazz is the longest current term of service among head coaches in the NBA.

December 9, 1993 Kevin Johnson of Phoenix became the 13th NBA player to record 10 steals in a game, during the Suns’ 114-95 win over visiting Washington.

December 9, 1997 Chicago's Michael Jordan becomes the NBA’s third-leading scorer in a 100-82 win over New York, scoring 29 points to give him 27,432 points over 13 seasons. Jordan moved ahead of Moses Malone, who had scored 27,409 points in 19 seasons.

December 9, 2000 Gary Payton scored 35 points in a loss to Houston, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Seattle SuperSonics history. Payton finished the game with 14,044 career points, surpassing “Downtown” Fred Brown’s 14,018 points.

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